Kuang-Yao Chen
JobTitle： Ph.D.
CurrentJob： Associate Professor
E-mail： d000018229@cgu.edu.tw
Phone： 03-2118800#5986
Education： Ph.D. Chang Gung University, Taiwan
Expertise： Parasitology
Website： https://pure.lib.cgu.edu.tw/zh/persons/kuang-yao-chen-2
Research
In my previous research, we focused on the pathobiology and translational neurobiology of A. cantonensis infection within the central nervous system. This neurotropic zoonotic nematode causes eosinophilic meningitis and severe neurological sequelae, posing significant health risks in endemic regions across Asia and the Pacific. Our laboratory integrates parasitology, molecular neuroscience, and translational therapeutics to elucidate the host-parasite interaction and develop innovative treatment strategies. This comprehensive evaluation approach combines cellular, molecular, and behavioral measurements, establishing a strong framework for translational validation.
Research
Research achievements within the past five years
1. Huang YH, Chang SH, Cheng CJ, Lin YH, Chou YC, Chen CL, Chen KY*. (2025) Combination therapy with 3-Hydroxybenzaldehyde and Albendazole modulates mitochondrial protein expression in astrocytes after Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 19(11):e0013773. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0013773.
2. Jhan KY＃, Chen KY＃, Chang PK, Chiu CH, Chou CJ, Wang LC*. (2025) 7,8-Dihydroxyflavone provides neuroprotection and rescues behavioral deficits in Angiostrongylus cantonensis-infected mice by ameliorating synaptic loss. J Microbiol Immunol Infect. 58(5):526-536. doi: 10.1016/j.jmii.2025.04.001.
3. Cheng CJ＃, Wang LC＃, Chu LJ, Chen KY, Huang CY, Lan KL, Huang KY*. (2025). Extracellular vesicles from fifth-stage larval Angiostrongylus cantonensis upregulate cholesterol biosynthesis and suppress NLRP2-associated inflammatory responses in mouse astrocytes. mSystems. 10(1). e0101424. doi.org/10.1128/msystems.01014-24.
4. Chen KY*, Cheng CJ, Chang YT, Lin YH, Huang YH, Lin SY, Wang LC, Jhan KY, Chiu CH. (2024). Benzaldehyde stimulates autophagy via the sonic hedgehog signaling pathway in mouse brain astrocytes after treatment with Angiostrongylus cantonensis excretory-secretory products. International Journal for Parasitology: Drugs and Drug Resistance. 26:100560. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2024.100560.
5. Chen KY*, Lin YH, Cheng CJ, Huang YH, Lin SY, Chen CL, Chiu CH. (2024). Identifying the function of novel cross-species microRNAs from the excretory-secretory products of Angiostrongylus cantonensis fifth-stage larvae. Journal of Microbiology, Immunology and Infection. 13:S1684-1182(24)00207-X. doi: 10.1016/j.jmii.2024.11.001.
6. Sofiyatun E＃, Chen KY＃, Chou CJ, Lee HC, Day YA, Chiang PJ, Chiu CH, Chen WJ, Jhan KY, Wang LC*. (2024) Doxycycline cotherapy with albendazole relieves neural function damage in C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice infected with Angiostrongylus cantonensis. Biomed J. 48(1):100727. doi: 10.1016/j.bj.2024.100727.
7. Chen KY*, Cheng CJ, Chen YJ, Chiu CH, Wang LC*. (2023) The protective effects of benzaldehyde combined with albendazole against brain injury induced by Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection in mice. International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents. 106963. doi:10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2023.106963.
8. Chen KY*, Chen YJ, Cheng CJ, Jhan KY, Chiu CH, Wang LC*. (2023) The therapeutic effect of tanshinone IIA in mouse astrocytes after treatment with Angiostrongylus cantonensis fifth-stage larval excretory-secretory products. Journal of Microbiology, Immunology and Infection. 56(4):853-862. doi:10.1016/j.jmii.2023.04.007.
9. Jhan KY, Cheng CJ, Chou CJ, Jung SM, Lai GJ, Chen KY*, Wang LC*. (2022) Improvements of cognitive functions in mice heavily infected by Angiostrongylus cantonensis after treatment with albendazole, dexamethasone, or co-therapy. Journal of Microbiology, Immunology and Infection. S1684-1182(22)00058-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jmii.2022.04.004.
10. Chen KY*, Chen YJ, Cheng CJ, Jhan KY, Wang LC*. (2022) Benzaldehyde Attenuates the Fifth Stage Larval Excretory-Secretory Product of Angiostrongylus cantonensis-Induced Injury in Mouse Astrocytes via Regulation of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Oxidative Stress. Biomolecules. 12(2):177. doi: 10.3390/biom12020177.
11. Jhan KY, Cheng CJ, Jung SM, Lai YJ, Chen KY*, Wang LC*. (2021) Co-Therapy of Albendazole and Dexamethasone Reduces Pathological Changes in the Cerebral Parenchyma of Th-1 and Th-2 Dominant Mice Heavily Infected with Angiostrongylus cantonensis: Histopathological and RNA-seq Analyses. Biomolecules. 11(4):536.
12. Chen KY*, Chen YJ, Cheng CJ, Jhan KY, Chiu CH, Wang LC*. (2021) 3-Hydroxybenzaldehyde and 4-Hydroxybenzaldehyde enhance survival of mouse astrocytes treated with Angiostrongylus cantonensis young adults excretory/secretory products. Biomedical Journal. 44(6 Suppl 2):S258-S266. doi: 10.1016/j.bj.2020.11.008.
13. Chen KY*, Cheng CJ, Cheng CC, Jhan KY, Chen YJ, Wang LC*. (2020) The excretory/secretory products of fifth-stage larval Angiostrongylus cantonensis induces autophagy via the Sonic hedgehog pathway in mouse brain astrocytes. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases. 14(6):e0008290.
14. Chen KY*, Chen YJ, Cheng CJ, Jhan KY, Wang LC*. (2020) Excretory/secretory products of Angiostrongylus cantonensis fifth-stage larvae induce endoplasmic reticulum stress via the Sonic hedgehog pathway in mouse astrocytes. Parasites & Vectors. 13(1):317.
15. Jhan KY, Lai GJ, Chang PK, Tang RY, Cheng CJ, Chen KY*, Wang LC*. (2020) Angiostrongylus cantonensis causes cognitive impairments in heavily infected BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice. Parasites & Vectors. 13(1):405.
16. Wang TY＃, Chen KY＃, Jhan KY, Li CH, Jung SM, Wang LC*. (2020) Temporal-spatial expressions of interleukin-4, interleukin-10, and interleukin-13 in the brains of C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice infected with Angiostrongylus cantonensis: An immunohistochemical study. Journal of Microbiology, Immunology and Infection. 53(4):592-603. doi: 10.1016/j.jmii.2018.10.010.